PowerCo SE and BACCARA start new cooperation
The BACCARA Graduate School is pleased to announce its new cooperation with the battery company PowerCo SE.
This partnership includes financial support from PowerCo for the BACCARA research programme and the associated doctoral positions over a period of three years.
Prof Dr Martin Winter explains: "With PowerCo's support, we are now ensuring that top-level research and top-level education can continue to go hand in hand in Münster. The entire spectrum of highly qualified specialists will continue to come from Münster in the future. They will provide decisive impetus for battery research and industry both nationally and in Europe. Ultimately, the support of PowerCo also guarantees that the industrial relevance is ensured at the highest level."
As part of this collaboration, BACCARA students will have the opportunity to gain practical insights, including through expert presentations and on-site projects. As an up-and-coming global battery cell manufacturer, PowerCo SE strives for excellence and places particular emphasis on promoting science and education.
"With PowerCo, we want to establish the battery cell as a key technology in Germany and Europe. To achieve this, we are relying on the brightest and most committed minds in the industry who want to work with us to build a sustainable, reliable cell manufacturer with European roots," emphasizes Sebastian Krapoth, Chief Human Resources Officer at PowerCo.
Battery research in Germany has experienced an enormous upswing in recent years, primarily due to the increasing relevance of electromobility. This diversification of the market requires cutting-edge research and training, which is guaranteed by BACCARA's collaboration with PowerCo.
BACCARA Managing Director Dr Julia Quante explains: "The challenges of the energy transition are enormous. We can make an important contribution in the field of battery research by providing industry-orientated doctoral training at the highest level of research. This is why the cooperation with PowerCo, which is now beginning, is far-sighted and promising."
PowerCo is a global battery cell manufacturer that was founded by the Volkswagen Group in 2022. Headquartered in Salzgitter, the company is responsible for the development and production of battery cells as well as the vertical integration of the value chain. PowerCo is currently building three main cell factories with a total volume of up to 200 gigawatt hours per year: Salzgitter in Germany, Valencia in Spain and St. Thomas in Canada.
BACCARA is currently funded primarily by the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and also by the University of Münster. Up to 45 doctoral students are taking part in a three-year comprehensive research programme at BACCARA, which includes materials research, (macro)molecular chemistry, electrochemistry, catalysis and battery cell research for energy storage as well as life cycle analyses and recycling.